Inside corner trim product

ABSTRACT

A flexible inside corner trim piece is formed with concave depressions at hinge portions where wings attach to the body. The trim piece can be formed such that wings and a top cap lay flat in plane perpendicular to body or wings and top cap curve at an angle. Hinge portions can be narrow or wide and symmetrical or asymmetrical. The trim piece can be dyed, paintable, or present another decorative surface. The trim piece can include embedded lighting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/983,979,filed Dec. 30, 2015, entitled “Inside Corner Trim Product, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/212,230, filed Aug.31, 2015, entitled “Inside Corner Trim Product, each of which is herebyfully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to building products, and moreparticularly to flexible corner trim material for application to insidecorners for decorative and cosmetic applications.

BACKGROUND

In construction of dwellings and other buildings, inside corners arefinished in a variety of ways. Depending on the wall material, insidecorners may be created by abutting finishing materials. This can besufficient in many cases if the structural materials at the corner areperfectly plumb and straight. However, many building materials andconstruction techniques are less than perfect. More commonly corners arenot plumb and straight and further finishing is required or desirable.In the case of drywall construction, sheets of drywall are abutted atthe inside corners and the joints are sealed with tape which is thenconcealed with drywall joint compound. When paneling is used covemolding may be applied at the inside corners to conceal the joints.However, these approaches are time consuming and may still not provide adesired appearance at the inside corners because of unevenness of theresulting walls.

Cove molding is made from relatively rigid materials and does notreadily conform to wall surfaces that are less than regular. Drywalltaping requires considerable skill and practice to achieve a pleasingappearance.

SUMMARY

The invention solves many of the above discussed problems and presents auseful alternative way to finish inside corners. Corners finished withembodiments of the invention tend to soften the appearance of the room,provide a smoother transition between walls and be more cosmeticallypleasing than corners finished by other techniques.

In example embodiments, an inside corner trim piece can unitary instructure. An inside corner trim piece extruded or molded of a flexiblematerial and can include a body and wings. Each wing is connected to thebody at a hinge portion. The hinge portion between the wings and thebody can present a longitudinal concave depression allowing for greaterflexibility of the wings and better conformance to irregularities inmaterials at a corner.

In an example embodiment, the longitudinal concave depression at thehinge portion can have a wider or narrower extent as compared to and mayfeature an approximately semicircular cross section or a cross sectionhaving an arcuate shape. The longitudinal depression may also have anangular shape. The longitudinal concave depression of the hinge portionmay have a radius of curvature that is about 10/7 or approximatelyalternately from about 1.4 to about 6 times as great as the thickness ofthe material of the hinge portion. For example, if the thinnest area ofthe hinge portion is about 0.007 inches thick the radius of curvature ofthe concave depression, viewed in cross section may range from about0.010 inches to about 0.060 inches. “About” in this context means with atolerance of plus or minus 0.005 inches.

In example embodiments, when viewed in cross section the wings and topof the body lay flat when the corner trim piece is in a relaxed stateand not applied to an inside corner. According to another exampleembodiment, the wings and top of the body define a concave arc or curvesuch that wings are angled away from a plane perpendicular to a linethat bisects the body into mirror images when viewed in cross section.

According to another example embodiment, the trim piece can be dyed,paintable, can be prepainted or present a wood trim appearance. Inanother example embodiment, the trim piece can present or includeembedded lighting, for example, in the form of light emitting diodes.According to another example embodiment, the trim piece includes fiberoptics related to the embedded lighting and/or low voltage wiring tosupport the wiring.

According to another example embodiment, the trim piece can present alengthwise slit to provide access to a lengthwise passage or cavity inthe trim piece. The passage or cavity may have a circular, oval,elliptical or other shaped cross section.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustratedembodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. Thefigures and the detailed description that follow more particularlyexemplify various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in considerationof the following detailed description of various embodiments inconnection with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece according to an exampleembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece according to theembodiment of FIG. 1 including example dimensions in inches and degrees;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece according to anotherexample embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece according to theembodiment of FIG. 3 including example dimensions in inches and degrees;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece according to anotherexample embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece according to theembodiment of FIG. 5 including example dimensions in inches and degrees;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece including illuminationaccording to another example embodiment of the invention and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a trim piece including a slit accessto an internal cavity.

While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications andalternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimedinventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined bythe claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1 an example embodiment of the invention is depicted.FIG. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of a trim piece 100. Trim piece100 is of indeterminate length and can be extruded to any desiredlength. As depicted, trim piece 100 is a unitary structure formed of aflexible substance such as a polymer. Example polymers that can be usedare disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 2013/0266760 A1 which isincorporated by reference herein.

When viewed in cross-section, trim piece 100 according to an exampleembodiment generally presents body 112, top cap 114, junction 116, firstside 118, second side 120, and wings 122 and 124.

Body 112 has a generally triangular cross section with a rounded cornerat junction 116. According to an example embodiment, junction 116presents a radius of curvature of about 0.030 inches.

First side 118 and second side 120 are generally mirror images of eachother and may include or be adapted to receive an adhesive (not shown)thereon to facilitate attachment of trim piece 100 to an inside corner.

Wings 120 and 122, when viewed in cross section, extend outwardly awayfrom body 112 in opposing directions. Wings 120 and 122 are generallymirror images of one another and further present rounded tip 123 andtapered portion 125.

Trim piece 100, when viewed in cross-section, can span a width of 0.5 tothree inches between the tip of wing 122 and wing 124. Trim piece 100can span other widths as desired for a particular finishingcircumstance.

In the depicted embodiment, in FIGS. 1-6, first side 118 and second side120 form an approximately 90 degree angle at junction 116. In otherexample embodiments, this angle can be more obtuse or more acute tofacilitate use in environments where walls do not meet at 90 degreeangles. Junction 116 can present a sharp corner or be rounded whenviewed in cross section.

Wings 122 and 124 are arranged at opposite sides of body 112, and extendoutwardly away from body 112 and can taper to terminate at narrow or asubstantially knife edges. Wings 122 and 124 can taper along theirentire span or over only a portion. Wings 122 and 124 are connected tobody 112 at hinge portions 132, 134. When viewed in cross-section, hingeportions 132 and 134 can present approximately semi-circular, arcuate orcurved concave indentations in body 112 on a side opposite top cap 114.The indentations of hinge portions 132 and 134 can have alternativeshapes such as rectangular or triangular, and can be arranged on thesame side of body 112 as top cap 114 as well as on the opposite side asdepicted. Hinge portions 132 and 134 are bordered by a trough shapeddepression that can have a radius of curvature of 0.01 inches or belarger or smaller as desired.

In the example embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-4, hinge portions 132 and134 are relatively narrow and non-symmetrical as extensions of sides 118and 120. In the example embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5-6, hinge portions132 and 134 are relatively wide and symmetrical. Width andsymmetricality may vary independent of each other as well.

In the example embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, top cap 114 andwings 122 and 124 lie substantially on a plane that is perpendicular toa line bisecting body 112 at junction 116. In other embodiments, such asthose depicted in FIGS. 3-6, top cap 114 is curved or arcuate and wings122 and 124 can lie at an angle of twenty degrees plus or minus tendegrees from the plane that is perpendicular to a line bisecting body112 at junction 116.

Referring to FIG. 7, trim piece 100 can include illumination 138, forexample, LEDs 140. The LEDs can be incorporated into trim piece 100during the extrusion process, or applied to top cap 114 or embeddedafter extrusion. Trim piece 100 can present wiring or connectors (notshown) as needed to supply power to any included lights. Trim piece 100can also include fiber optic therein to transmit light to otherlocations within trim piece 100.

Trim piece 100 can be composed of a single multiple density extrudedPVC, TPO, bio-based polymer, EcoFlex, Elvax, or similar product havingsufficient rigidity and flexibility to form trim piece 100.

Trim piece 100 can present a decorative surface 142 that causes trimpiece 100 to match or contrast with the surfaces abutting the corner towhich it is mated. The decorative surface 142 can be present on theoutside of body 112 or top cap 114, or color or texture can beintegrated throughout trim piece 100, for example, by forming trim piece100 of pigmented materials. The decorative surface 142 can be paintable,colored to match desired paint colors, wood trim, metallic, or otherdesired surface. Trim piece 100 can present adhesive on first side 118and second side 120 opposite top cap 114.

Referring to FIG. 8 another embodiment of trim piece 100 is depicted.Slit 150 is formed in body 112 of trim piece 100. Slit 150 is defined byleft side 152, right side 154 and aperture 156. Aperture 156 isconfigured to accept insertion of, for example, a fiber or wire intoaperture 156 to generally conceal the fiber or wire from view. Aperture156 may accommodate one or more lengths of fiber or wire while remainingwithin the scope of the invention. In addition, the cross sectionalprofile of aperture 156 is circular in FIG. 8. However, thecross-sectional profile of aperture 156 may be square, rectangular,triangular, oval, elliptical, race track shaped or the shape of otherregular or irregular polygons while remaining within the scope of theinvention. Left side 152 and right side 154 of slit 150 can meet inclose apposition or maintain a small gap therebetween. Slit 150 may belocated proximate junction 116 or at another location on trim piece 100.Slit 150 may be located to be accessed from any location on the crosssection of trim piece but a location proximate junction 116 conceals thelocation of slit 150 when trim piece is applied.

In operation, trim piece 100 is fitted into a corner between two walls,a wall and a floor, a wall and a cabinet, or other location where twosubstantially planar surfaces meet. Trim piece 100 can be oriented suchthat junction 116 rests proximate or against an inside corner and topcap 114 faces outwards. Hinge portions 132 and 134 enable increasedflexibility of wing portions 122 and 124, thus enabling wing portions122 124 to lay flat against each generally planar surface and tocompensate for irregularities of the surfaces thus presenting a smoothand finished appearance to the inside corners with less effort than moreconventional finishing techniques. Trim piece 100 can be held in placeby an integrated adhesive, or by a user applied adhesive.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit of the essential attributes thereof;therefore, the illustrated embodiments should be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made tothe appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicatethe scope of the invention.

Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been describedherein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are notintended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should beappreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments thathave been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerousadditional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions,shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for usewith disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may beutilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that thesubject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated inany individual embodiment described above. The embodiments describedherein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways inwhich the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined.Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations offeatures; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination ofdifferent individual features selected from different individualembodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can beimplemented in other embodiments even when not described in suchembodiments unless otherwise noted.

Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specificcombination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can alsoinclude a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter ofeach other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features withother dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposedherein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such thatno subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicitdisclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above isfurther limited such that no claims included in the documents areincorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference ofdocuments above is yet further limited such that any definitionsprovided in the documents are not incorporated by reference hereinunless expressly included herein.

For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended thatthe provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) are not to be invoked unless thespecific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.

1. (canceled)
 2. A method of making a trim piece for finishing ortrimming inside corners, comprising: forming an indeterminate length ofunitary structure from a flexible material, such that the unitarystructure when viewed in cross section, includes: a first wing portionextending outwardly away from a first outside portion; a second wingportion extending outwardly away from a second outside portion; a firsthinge portion between the first wing portion and the first outsideportion bounded by a surface having a radius of curvature that is 1.40to 6 times a minimum thickness of the first hinge portion; and a secondhinge portion between the second wing portion and the second outsideportion bounded by a surface having a radius of curvature that is 1.40to 6 times a minimum thickness of the second hinge portion.
 3. Themethod as claimed in claim 2, further comprising forming theindeterminate length of unitary structure by extrusion.
 4. The method asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising forming the indeterminate lengthof unitary structure by molding.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 2,further comprising forming at least one of the first hinge portion andthe second hinge portion such that the radius of curvature ranges fromabout 0.010 inches to about 0.060 inches.
 6. The method as claimed inclaim 2, further comprising forming at least one of the first hingeportion and the second hinge portion such that the minimum thickness ofat least one of the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion isin a range from 0.007 inches to 0.010 inches.
 7. The method as claimedin claim 2, further comprising forming the unitary structure to presenta lengthwise slit and a lengthwise passage or cavity in the trim piece.8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising forming theunitary structure such that the lengthwise passage or cavity has a crosssectional shape selected from a group consisting of square, rectangular,triangular, racetrack-shaped, circular, oval and elliptical.
 9. Themethod as claimed in claim 2, further comprising embedding lightingstructures in the indeterminate length of the unitary structure.
 10. Themethod as claimed in claim 2, further comprising forming theindeterminate length of unitary structure from a material selected froma group consisting of single density PVC, multi-pole density PVC, TPO,bio-based polymer, EcoFlex or Elvax.
 11. A method of trimming an insidecorner, comprising: applying an indeterminate length of a flexibleunitary structure to the inside corner; selecting the indeterminatelength of the of the unitary structure to include: a first wing portionextending outwardly away from a first outside portion; a second wingportion extending outwardly away from a second outside portion; a firsthinge portion between the first wing portion and the first outsideportion bounded by a surface having a radius of curvature that is 1.40to 6 times a minimum thickness of the first hinge portion; and a secondhinge portion between the second wing portion and the second outsideportion bounded by a surface having a radius of curvature that is 1.40to 6 times a minimum thickness of the second hinge portion; and bondingthe indeterminate length of the unitary structure to the inside cornerwith an adhesive.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, furthercomprising bonding the indeterminate length of the unitary structure tothe inside corner with an integrated adhesive.
 13. The method as claimedin claim 11, further comprising applying a user applied adhesive to theindeterminate length of the unitary structure.
 14. The method as claimedin claim 11, further comprising selecting the indeterminate length ofthe unitary structure to include integral lighting.
 15. The method asclaimed in claim 11, further comprising selecting the indeterminatelength of the unitary structure to include a lengthwise slit and alengthwise passage or cavity therein.
 16. The method as claimed in claim15, further comprising inserting an elongate structure into thelengthwise passage or cavity via the lengthwise slit.
 17. The method asclaimed in claim 16, further comprising selecting the elongate structureto include a wire or fiber optic.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 11,further comprising applying force to the indeterminate length of theunitary structure to deform at least one of the first hinge portion andthe second hinge portion by contact with the inside corner.
 19. A trimpiece for finishing inside corners, comprising: an elongated unitarystructure of indeterminate length which when viewed in cross section,includes; a central body; the body further presenting two outsideportions including a first outside portion and a second outside portion;a first wing portion extending outwardly away from the first outsideportion; a second wing portion extending outwardly away from the secondoutside portion; a first hinge portion between the first wing portionand the first outside portion having a first cross section relativelythinner than the adjacent first wing portion and first outside portion;and a second hinge portion between the second wing portion and thesecond outside portion having a second cross section relatively thinnerthan the adjacent second wing portion and second outside portion whereinthe first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are bounded by asurface having a radius of curvature that is 1.40 to 6 times a minimumthickness of the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion. 20.The trim piece as claimed in claim 19, wherein for at least one of thefirst hinge portion and the second hinge portion the radius of curvatureranges from about 0.010 inches to about 0.060 inches.
 21. The trim pieceas claimed in claim 19, wherein the minimum thickness of at least one ofthe first hinge portion and the second hinge portion is in a range from0.007 inches to 0.010 inches.